Thierry Neuville crowned world champion!

The suspense did not even last a special stage this Sunday at Rally from Japan. While he had started the day with the third provisional time while waiting for the passage ofOtt Tänak and in a good position for Super Sunday, the Belgian was able to exult in the liaison! While waiting for the next departure, the pilot Hyundai and his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe were informed of the Estonian's crash, the only one who could still deprive him of the title.

Ott Tänak crashed in the final sector of SS17, caught out by road dirt from previous passes in a right-hander. The outcome was inevitable for the 2019 world champion who was unable to regain control of his i20, ending up in a ditch. Hyundai has confirmed that both Tänak and Martin Järveoja are okay.

Heartbreak for Ott Tänak & Martin Järveoja 💔#WRC | #RallyJapan 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/dvSo2q6nyG

— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) November 23, 2024

A few kilometers away, Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe received the news and hugged each other, celebrating their first world championship title. "I'm speechless, it came as a bit of a surprise, entrusted the new world champion to the service park. We were preparing the car before the stage (SS18) and we got a call from Florian, my assistant. He usually never calls, so I thought something was wrong. I heard a lot of people shouting behind me, so I knew it was good news! It took me a while to take it in! The feeling will be better day by day, when we really realize what we have achieved. I can only thank all the people who have been behind me all this time, my supporters – Team #TN11 – who have supported me for years, my family, my team who gave their best, all the people who have followed me all these years. I am very happy.

At Hyundai, however, feelings are mixed as Ott Tänak's exit puts the Constructors' title in jeopardy. Indeed, the Estonian's retirement hands the lead in the general standings to Elfyn Evans followed by his teammate Sébastien Ogier to lead a double Toyota in Japan. Arriving this weekend with a 15-point lead over its Japanese rival, the South Korean brand is provisionally 8 points behind. With Thierry Neuville as the best representative, only 6th in the standings, Hyundai will have a hard time achieving a double. Unless there is a turnaround, Toyota should leave with the Constructors' title.

For Thierry Neuville, this title rewards all the efforts since his full-time debut in 2012 and his 5 second places in the championship (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019).

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